Sheet turning apparatus

Abstract

A sheet turning apparatus includes first and second sheet conveyors configured to convey a sheet along respective sheet paths. The sheet is conveyed by the first sheet conveyor in a first disposition relative to an orientation of the first sheet conveyor. Also included is a chamber configured to receive the sheet from the first sheet conveyor. The chamber has an orientation different than the orientation of the first sheet conveyor or an orientation of the second sheet conveyor. The sheet is discharged from the chamber to the second sheet conveyor in a second disposition relative to the orientation of the second sheet conveyor. The second disposition is reversed from the first disposition. Also provided is a method for turning a sheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet turning apparatus comprising:
 first and second sheet conveyors configured to convey a sheet along respective sheet paths, wherein the sheet is conveyed by the first sheet conveyor in a first disposition relative to an orientation of the first sheet conveyor; and   a chamber configured to receive the sheet from the first sheet conveyor,   wherein the chamber has an orientation different than the orientation of the first sheet conveyor or an orientation of the second sheet conveyor, and wherein the sheet is discharged from the chamber to the second sheet conveyor in a second disposition relative to the orientation of the second sheet conveyor, the second disposition being reversed from the first disposition.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an air provider configured to provide air to the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber is enclosed by a first outer panel and a second panel opposite the chamber from the first outer panel, and
 the air provider is configured to provide air to the chamber, and wherein the sheet is deposited into the chamber from the first sheet conveyor and is spaced apart from each of the first panel and the second panel by air from the air provider.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sheet is a coated sheet, and wherein, when the sheet is in the chamber, the sheet is at least partially dried by movement of air from the air provider. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the air provider is further configured to blow air at a sheet moving from the chamber, such that the sheet deflects the air into the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the air provider comprises an air knife. 
     
     
         7 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber extends substantially along a vertically upward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes an opening through which the sheet is provided from the first sheet conveyer to the chamber,
 wherein the chamber includes an adjustable sheet stopper spaced apart from the opening in a sheet conveying direction, the sheet stopper being adjustably located based on a size of a sheet to be turned.   
     
     
         9 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet conveyor and the second sheet conveyor include a common component that conveys the sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second sheet conveyor is configured to convey the sheet that moves down to the second sheet conveyor from the chamber at least by a weight of the sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second sheet conveyor overlaps with an extension of a center line of the chamber, the chamber extending along the center line. 
     
     
         12 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet conveyor includes:
 a first sheet conveying roller; and   a second sheet conveying roller adjacent to the first sheet conveying roller,   wherein the first and second sheet conveying rollers are configured to convey the coated sheet toward the chamber by:
 the first sheet conveying roller rotating in a first rotation direction, and 
 the second sheet conveying roller rotating in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. 
   
     
     
         13 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first sheet conveying roller is a common component of the first sheet conveyor and the second sheet conveyor, and
 wherein the first sheet conveying roller is configured to convey the sheet from the chamber, by the first sheet conveying roller rotating in the first rotation direction.   
     
     
         14 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first sheet conveying roller is a driving roller. 
     
     
         15 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first sheet conveying roller includes an outer peripheral surface that includes at least one friction portion. 
     
     
         16 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first sheet conveying roller includes at least one elastic ring around the first sheet conveying roller, the elastic ring forming the at least one friction portion. 
     
     
         17 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet conveyor includes at least one sheet conveying belt, and
 the first sheet conveying roller and the second sheet conveying roller are disposed at a downstream side of the sheet conveying belt.   
     
     
         18 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet path of the second sheet conveyor is horizontal or angled relative to horizontal and vertical directions. 
     
     
         19 . The sheet turning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet conveyor includes first and second conveyors configured to convey the sheet, the first conveyor is disposed at a downstream side of the second conveyor, the first conveyor is movable from the second conveyor to create a bypass path along which the sheet moves from the second conveyor to the second sheet conveyor by bypassing the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 conveying, by a first sheet conveyor, a sheet in a first disposition relative to an orientation of the first sheet conveyor; and   receiving, by a chamber, the sheet from the first sheet conveyor, wherein the chamber has an orientation different than the orientation of the first sheet conveyor or a second orientation of a second sheet conveyor;   discharging the sheet from the chamber to the second sheet conveyor in a second disposition relative to the orientation of the second sheet conveyor, the second disposition being reversed from the first disposition.